THE next day came by quickly. Timothy still wasn't comfortable with his roommate just yet, but he was able to fall asleep because of how exhausted he was from all the driving and then carrying his properties and arranging them.
"So what are you studying?" Rowen asked out of the blue.
Timothy blinked, trying to clear the sleep from his eyes and look at his obviously energetic roommate. He didn't know how to react at that.
"Excuse me, but," he started, sitting up, "why exactly are you in my room?"
The other boy had the decency to look remorseful and smiled a bit. "Sorry man, the door was open so..."
Timothy sighed as he stood up from his bed, no longer sleepy. "Veterinary medicine."
He watched Rowen's eyes bright up as he exclaimed, "Me too!" He jumped to his side to hug him around his shoulders. "We're definitely going to be best mates."
This guy really doesn't understand what personal space is, Timothy thought as he sighed again.
It was already morning and seeing as there was no need to go back to bed, he decided to take a shower.
He went to class with Rowen, as he'd never planned. But he didn't complain because he was a lively and friendly person to everybody, so they were able to find their way around places easily. After all, it was his fault that they didn't know anywhere. There was actually a notice of someone coming to show new students around and to give other vital information, but because Rowen wanted to go together and because he got ready later than Timothy, they couldn't make it. Timothy was pissed, but he'd always done a good job of hiding it.
Unlike he'd expected, classes weren't much and they were shorter. But Rowen assured him that from what some senior told him, this was just the introduction and that it would get much more worse. How nice.
Rowen found reasons to stop at every point to talk to someone, ask questions or just crack some jokes and leave. Timothy found it weird and awkward for himself because that was bringing attention to himself indirectly. He just wanted to school and go back home...find work, too. He really wanted to know how his roommate did it though. It must take a lot of energy and self-confidence to do all of that. Just as Rowen stopped again, this time to buy some ice cream, his sister called.
"Hey," he answered in relief.
"How was your first day of uni?" She went straight to the point.
Timothy rolled his eyes. "You're not going to ask how I am first?"
Diane snorted. "Sorry. How are you then? Obviously, you're fine, if not you wouldn't be talking to me so calmly."
"True," he agreed. "My first day of uni was ruined by the guy whose 'aura' you so much love. Unfortunately, we're doing the same course." He glanced at Rowen who was talking animatedly with someone. "He made me go late and so we had to ask for directions. Well, he had to ask for directions, and now I'm waiting for him to finish talking to a total stranger so we'd go home."
Diane laughed. He, in turn, laughed, too. Her laugh was contagious. He didn't know what she was laughing about though, since he didn't say anything funny. And, wasn't she supposed to be sad about him leaving?
"I miss you," she suddenly said, answering his internal question. "And I'm happy that you have a friend, even though you act like you don't like him."
"Never said I didn't like him," he grumbled.
"Then you do like him, as far as I'm concerned," she said.
"How are you?" He asked, changing the subject.
Since he'd gone to the university, his sister thought it was a good idea to move to where he resided. She wanted to be close by and Timothy didn't mind. Besides, the city brought better opportunities and she had some friends here from highschool.
"I'm good. Lisa and I found a better place to stay and we're moving starting from today. Which means that I have to work really hard because it's not really cheap."
She'd stayed with her friend once in a while, sometimes with Timothy and sometimes without. Lisa was nice. A practicing nurse and the one who'd offered to be her roommate since she'd expressed interest in moving.
"I'd like to see the place," he muttered.
"Maybe after we fully settle, okay?"
"Okay."
"I have to get to work now, Tim. Send my greetings to Rowen, okay?"
"Nope. I'm not comfortable with you being so friendly to a stranger."
Diane just laughed. "He's a cool guy. You'll see that soon."
Timothy rolled his eyes. "Bye, sis."
"Bye."
Now he was left to face the smiling white haired boy.
***
Night came sooner than expected. What did Timothy do throughout? Sleep, eat, play games and glance at his notes. Now, he was answering Rowen's questions half-heartedly since he didn't have the strength to scream at him to get out of his room. He really didn't know why the boy liked staying inside his room so much.
He'd taken off his chain because he felt uncomfortable all of a sudden. He'd never really taken it off his neck for the longest time especially at night--well, apart from that one time before they got into the school gate, when she said she wanted to inspect it--because his sister instructed him to never do it since he was a kid. She'd never given him a serious reason though, just something that had to deal with their parents. But she wasn't around now and he was feeling itchy around his neck, and sweaty despite the open window in his room. He also took off his shirt.
"What book is that?" Rowen asked, pointing the novel in Timothy's hand.
"A fantasy book. About werewolves and vampires."
"Ooh! I love those!"
"Yup."
"Do you believe they exist?"
Timothy raised his eyes from his book to look at him. No one's ever asked him that before. And he'd never thought about that before.
"I do," Rowen answered for him. "And I think they're among us."
Timothy chuckled at that. "If they were, I would've met one already."
"You sure you haven't?"
Timothy raised a brow. "Are you one?"
Rowen grinned. "Nope, neither. But I've met some."
Timothy found his answer amusing. He'd believe it when he sees one. He knew there were people like Rowen around the world who believed in such things and he had no criticism for them. He, himself, didn't know whether he thought they were real or not, but meeting one would probably bring some more excitement into his life. It'd probably be cool. Like in the movies.
So, a while later, he slept with that thought.
And woke up screaming.